The mummy makeover: why the tummy tuck goes beyond the aesthetic

We all know what a tummy tuck can do for your shape, appearance and self-esteem, but a recent report in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, points out that a tummy tuck can do so much more. Although tummy tucks are classified as a cosmetic surgical procedure, there are many health benefits as well:

A tummy tuck can improve your posture

Weight gain has long been fingered as a culprit of lordosis – an excessive inward curve of the spine – and carries a risk of back pain. But even when the weight comes off, the remaining ‘saddle’ of excess sagging skin – combined with weakened abdominal muscles – is still a factor for the development of lordosis. A tummy tuck will eliminate that risk, by strengthen and tighten the abdominal muscles, which supports the spine, allows a straightened posture, and – in some cases – can eradicate any back pain caused by excess weight.

A tummy tuck can eliminate Stress Urinary Incontinence

Women who have undergone a ‘natural’ birth sometimes develop stress urinary incontinence – a condition where the bladder empties itself involuntarily, usually when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. A tummy tuck can alleviate this problem by tightening the soft tissues that support the pelvic floor, bladder and urethra. In a study published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal, the clinical publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, tummy tucks can relieve SUI in nearly 60% of patients.

A tummy tuck canprovide relief from Hernias

Ventral hernias can develop when abdominal muscles have been weakened and the intestine or abdominal tissue begins to push through the abdominal wall. This can be corrected during a tummy tuck procedure, solving two problems at once.

A tummy tuck can make working out easier

Excess skin and weak abs make exercising even harder work than normal, but a tummy tuck can help kickstart your exercise regime. And this leads to another benefit of the tummy tuck.

Remember: the better shape your abdominal muscles are in, the better they function. Your abdominal muscles take on an incredible workload during your waking hours, from lifting to sitting up to even breathing. Weight gain and pregnancy has a habit of knocking your muscles out of shape – and once that happens, a host of knock-on problems can occur. And while you can always strengthen your muscles with exercise, you can’t move them back to where they were in the first place.

A tummy tuck procedure can restore your abdominal shape, along with greatly improving the appearance of your abdomen. To find out more about what a tummy tuck could do for you, call0117 325 5034 to book a consultation.